tageous
establishment for their daughter. Rainscourt was proud and overbearing
in disposition: vain, to excess, of his personal advantages, he
considered himself irresistible with the other sex. He had seen and
admired his future spouse; but still, as he required an alliance which
would enable him to indulge in his extravagance, and as her parents were
aware that Rainscourt was, or would soon be, a ruined man, in all
probability they would never have come in contact, but have rolled in
different orbits, more consonant to their views and their happiness, had
it not occurred that, at a large and convivial party, Rainscourt's
vanity had been piqued by his companions, who told him that he never
could obtain the hand of Miss ---, whose parents aspired to a higher
connection. Piqued at this remark, and flushed with the wine that had
been freely circulated, he offered to stake a considerable sum that he
would succeed before a certain allotted time. The wager was accepted.
Rainscourt courted without affection: and, by his assiduities and
feigned attachment, ultimately succeeded in persuading the fond girl to
destroy all the golden visions of her parent, and resign herself to his
arms, where he assured her that competence and love would be found more
than commensurate to a coronet and neglect.

They eloped; all Dublin was in an uproar for three days. Rainscourt
received the amount of his bet, and the congratulations of his friends,
and for a short time he and his wife lived together without any serious
fracas. The first that occurred proceeded from an anonymous letter,
evidently written by some envious and disappointed female, acquainting
Mrs Rainscourt with all the circumstances attending the bet, to which
she had been sacrificed. This mortifying news was received with showers
of tears, and some upbraiding; for Mrs Rainscourt really loved her
husband; and although patched up by Rainscourt's protestations, as to
the falsehood of the accusation, it sunk deep into her heart, and was
but the forerunner of future misery.

Rainscourt soon became tired of a woman whom he had never loved; cursed
his own vanity, that had induced him to saddle himself with such an
encumbrance as a wife; and by alternate violence and moroseness,
irritated her feelings, and roused her spirit. Neglect on his part
produced indifference on her side; and as the means of gaiety and
expense melted away, so did all respect and esteem for each other.

A